John McMichael

John McMichael (9 January 1948-22 December 1987) was a key Ulster Defense Association leader during The Troubles. McMichael was killed by a Provisional IRA car bomb at Lisburn, County Antrim in 1987 as revenge for his acts of terror carried out against Irish Catholics.

Biography
John McMichael was born in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland on 9 January 1948, coming from a working-class Church of Ireland family. He was a pub owner before joining the Ulster Defense Association during The Troubles, and he became known for his belief that all Ulster Protestants shared a unique identity. By 1979, McMichael had made himself known as the UDA's most charismatic senior member, and he made up a "shopping" list of Irish republican politicians to be targeted by the UDA for assassination. In November 1986, he attempted to arrange for incendiary bombings in Dublin, Ireland, but the UDA lacked experience with bombs. On 22 December 1987, the Provisional IRA placed a bomb in his car outside of the Hilden estate in Lisburn, and he activated it when he turned the ignition with his car key. McMichael lost both legs in the blast and suffered from internal injuries, and he held on for two more hours before dying of his wounds.